SHORTLY INTO A SHORT TRIP (~5MI) ON LOCAL STREETS, SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE FRONT HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND 911 CALLED. THE EMERGENCY TEAM ARRIVED QUICKLY, BUT FIRE WAS NOTICED IN THE FRONT HOOD EVEN BEFORE THEY SHOWED UP. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BUT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS THE FRONT HOOD WAS ALMOST COMPLETE FRIED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND HAD ABOUT 83000 MILES ON IT. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, NO WARNING SIGN OR OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTICED.